Enlightened Leadership Blog | Walking Through the Right Doors: The Power of Belonging | April 2025

When a door opens, we learn where it leads when we choose to walk through it. Some doors we open for ourselves. Others are opened by people who believe in us, often before we even believe in ourselves.

One of those doors opened for me when I was eighteen years old, a second-semester freshman at Villanova University. At the time, I was still figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. I had dreams of becoming a veterinarian, but something didn’t quite fit. I was searching for belonging, direction, and inspiration.

That’s when I met Dr. Gerard Olson. He welcomed me into Bartley Hall and the Villanova School of Business with a warmth and encouragement that made a lasting impression. From the moment I opened the heavy door to Bartley Hall, I felt like I belonged. It wasn’t just a building. It was a space that offered clarity, growth, and a sense of purpose. Dr. Olson helped me pivot away from veterinary medicine and into the world of business, where I belonged.

That sense of belonging has stayed with me throughout my career, and it brought me back to Villanova just last week. I spoke with one of Dr. Olson’s restructuring classes at the Villanova School of Business. Standing in front of those students, I reflected on the many professional roles I’ve held: global consulting, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurial ventures.

We talked about launching a career, my first internship at PwC, navigating mergers and acquisitions, traveling for work, project assignments, building real connections in the workplace, and the importance of learning without limits. I also shared the journey of writing my first book, Align Your Business with the Real You, and how personal and professional alignment has shaped my path.

The level of engagement and curiosity in the room was energizing. It reminded me of something I wrote in Align Your Business with the Real You:
“When you find where you belong, you feel it.”

This is true for students just beginning their careers, and it is just as true for all of us, no matter where we are on our journey. Our job is to recognize the doors of opportunity, feel the pull of where we belong, and have the courage to step through.

Because when we do, we often discover far more than a career pivot or path.

What are the key takeaways? Recognize unexpected doors swinging open, walk on unplanned paths, and be curious and willing to explore unfamiliar, challenging places.

By Jennifer Musser

See more and order Align Your Business with the Real You Here The Book – JLM & Associates Consulting and Align Your Business with the Real You: Connect with Yourself, Create What Matters Most, and Define Your Success by Jennifer Musser | Barnes & Noble®

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